Aloha Cluster Pays Slots
Following the grand release of NetEnt's latest title, Gun’s and Roses slot one might assume that the developers would indulge in a well-deserved pause and refrain from innovating with their subsequent creation. When I initially encountered the game's title, that was my impression – but as the saying goes, assuming can lead to blunders. I wondered, what does the Cluster Pays aspect actually entail? With my virtual passport in hand, I embarked on this online Hawaiian adventure to find out!
Upon launching the game, the Hawaiian 'Aloha' theme (which represents affection, peace, and kindness) becomes immediately apparent. The stunning graphics typical of NetEnt combined with a lively, vibrant color palette are reflective of the cheerful, tropical essence and earthy vibe of America’s 50th state. Plus, the game showcases some charming characters – all very well-crafted, yet nothing too shocking for seasoned NetEnt enthusiasts; they've established dedicated fan pages around their fun titles for good reason!
At this point, the cheerful game music stirred me from my slumber beneath the swaying palm trees – this isn’t just another average 5-reel slot churned out without thought. No, this distinctive 6-reel, 5-row video slot is loaded with exciting features, including the innovative Cluster Pays™ mechanic, Sticky Win Re-spins, substitution symbols, and Free Spins complete with a low-paying Symbol Drop feature – there's a treasure trove of potential big wins and gaming excitement waiting to unfold!
Theme & Graphics
While the captivating features might be the main attraction, the visual appeal and gameplay experience of a NetEnt production is consistently top-notch. We often take for granted that each slot they launch will dazzle us. That assumption holds true here; players familiar with Gonzo’s Quest will enjoy the guitar-strumming Tiki who interacts with various game features, and even the background Volcano adds to the action, erupting with wins whenever bonus rounds or free spins kick in.
The symbols in this game embody the tropical Hawaiian theme, featuring coconuts, seashells, pineapples, and wildflowers in place of the typical low-value playing cards found on classic slots. High-paying symbols include vividly colored Tiki masks, which occupy the space of two regular symbols to enhance your chances of forming winning combinations. Notably, the free spin icon is represented by a clever postage stamp showcasing the game’s serene background, while the single wild symbol is a unique question mark set against a carved wooden backdrop.
Features
It’s in this context that Aloha Cluster Pays truly shines as a new online slot game featuring an entirely unique gameplay mechanic; its arrangement of six reels and five rows without traditional paylines sets it apart, creating a wealth of winning opportunities. The wild symbol compensates for the absence of a scatter symbol, appearing anywhere across the reels and transforming into whichever nearby symbol offers the best payout in a cluster.
Clusters play a crucial role! A collection of nine or more symbols constitutes a cluster and triggers the Sticky Wins Respin feature. The initial cluster remains in place while the remaining visible symbols undergo a respin. Unlike the respin mechanics found in certain Microgaming games, this additional feature doesn’t cost anything extra and does not risk your current winnings. As you engage in a Sticky Win Respin, any increases in cluster size turn new symbols sticky as well, keeping the other symbols spinning until a spin fails to expand the cluster or the entire screen fills, granting the maximum payout for that symbol.
No game from NetEnt would feel complete without a free spins bonus and they certainly meet our expectations here, with 3 to 6 free spin symbols yielding 9 to 12 retriggerable spins. If that isn't enough, the free spins feature is enhanced further by the Symbol Drop feature, which allows lower-paying symbols to drop off the reels, thus increasing your opportunities to connect with the high-paying Tiki symbols for potentially massive wins!
Summary
Amid all the recent buzz surrounding movie-themed slots, NetEnt sought to ensure their loyal traditional slot players wouldn't feel left out. With this vibrant, well-crafted, and feature-rich title, they have perhaps delivered one of the most outstanding online slot releases in recent memory. .
